The beauty of this system is that it can feel both efficient and bottomless with a single setup. We set both the fork and shock to 30-percent sag and hit the trails. The fork and shock have only one air chamber each to set, and Trek simplifies the process by including clip-on sag meters on both. Setup: Setting up the DRCV should be a hassle, but it’s not. That little bit of extra air keeps the suspension from feeling like you’re getting cheated out of the last 20 percent of your travel from the air pressure “ramping up.” Bravo, Trek. This is the first year Trek has done that. We’ve had great luck with this shock technology, but always said we’d like to see it in the fork to offer a more balanced feel. The shock’s DRCV (Dual Rate Control Valve) technology works by using an additional air chamber that’s only opened up when the wheel moves deep into its travel. The frame also sports a tapered head tube, one-piece magnesium rocker, and integrated chainstay and downtube protection. This design uses a pivot at the dropout inline with the rear axle and a “floating” shock that attaches to the swingarm to keep the suspension active and neutral during braking and pedaling efforts. The Alpha Platinum aluminum frame features just over 5.1 inches of rock-gobbling suspension that uses Trek’s proprietary ABP (Active Braking Pivot) design. The Fuel EX9 sports just enough travel to feel aggressive, but not so much that it will hold you back on a long ride or a climb. This bike can work for a huge range of riders, and that’s what being a true trailbike is all about.